Lubbock County TXGenWeb
Historical Articles

Monday, February 1, 1999

Last modified at 12:34 a.m. on Monday, February 1, 1999

First buffalo kill brought prestige to young Texas explorer click here for the full article

By R.C. BURNS

(EDITOR'S NOTE Ð The following article appeared in the Dec. 2, 1923, edition of the Lubbock Morning Avalanche as part of the ''Early Days on the Plains'' series and was written by Lubbock pioneer R.C. Burns. This is the first in a series of 25 articles that will appear each Monday in The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.)

 Monday, February 8, 1999

Last modified at 12:41 a.m. on Monday, February 8, 1999

Cattle, farms led to Lubbock's birth click here for the full article

By JOHN B. MOBLEY

(EDITOR'S NOTE Ð The following article appeared in the Dec. 8, 1923, edition of the Lubbock Morning Avalanche as part of the ''Early Days on the Plains'' series and was written by Lubbock pioneer John B. Mobley, who arrived on the Llano Estacado as a cowboy in 1885. In this condensed version of the article, the second installment of a 25-part series, Mobley describes the early commercial bustle that would eventually become the town of Lubbock).

Monday, February 15, 1999

Last modified at 12:42 a.m. on Monday, February 15, 1999

Early settlers rallied around new Lubbock courthouse click here for the full article

By TEMPLE H. ELLIS

(EDITOR'S NOTE Ð The following article appeared in the Dec. 16, 1923, edition of the Lubbock Morning Avalanche as part of the ''Early Days on the Plains'' series and was written by Lubbock pioneer Temple H. Ellis, who arrived in the Lubbock area in 1887 and went into the mercantile business in 1907. In this, the third installment of a 25-part series, Ellis reflects on his life's journey to and in early Lubbock).

Monday, February 22, 1999

Last modified at 11:54 p.m. on Sunday, February 21, 1999

Pioneers molded town from Texas soil click here for the full article

By MRS. MABEL M. THORP

(EDITOR'S NOTE Ð The following article appeared in the Dec. 23, 1923, edition of the Lubbock Morning Avalanche as part of the ''Early Days on the Plains'' series and was written by Mrs. Mabel M. Thorp, who arrived in Lubbock with her husband in early 1913. In this, the fourth installment of a 25-part series, she recounts the strides made by Lubbock by 1923).

Monday, March 1, 1999
Last modified at 12:17 a.m. on Monday, March 1, 1999

Woman's home evolved into modern city click here for the full article

By MRS. J.L. COLEMAN

EDITOR'S NOTE ­ The following article appeared in the Dec. 30, 1923, edition of the Lubbock Morning Avalanche as part of the ''Early Days on the Plains'' series and was written by Mrs. J.L. Coleman, who arrived in Lubbock in 1911. In this, the fifth installment of a 25-part series, she reflects on the young bustling community known as Lubbock).

Monday, March 8, 1999
Last modified at 12:45 a.m. on Monday, March 8, 1999

Copeland family overcame adversity to establish new Meadow click here for the full article

By MRS. W.N. COPELAND

(EDITOR'S NOTE Ð The following article appeared in the Jan. 6, 1924, edition of the Lubbock Morning Avalanche as part of the ''Early Days on the Plains'' series and was written by Mrs. W.N. Copeland, whose family arrived on the South Plains in 1901. In this, the sixth installment of a 25-part series, she reflects on her family's days in early Terry County as well as some of the technological advancements that had been made by 1924).

Monday, March 15, 1999
Last modified at 11:57 p.m. on Sunday, March 14, 1999

Crops flourished with determination, West Texas soil click here for the full article

By MRS. IDA LEE COWAN

(EDITOR'S NOTE - The following article appeared in the Jan. 13, 1924, edition of the Lubbock Morning Avalanche as part of the "Early Days on the Plains" series and was written by Mrs. Ida Lee Cowan. In this, the seventh installment of a 25-part series, she looks back at her family's trip to early Hockley County).

Monday, March 22, 1999
Last modified at 1:05 a.m. on Monday, March 22, 1999

Newspaper founder witnessed Lubbock's early days click here for the full article

By JAMES J. DILLARD
Founder of the Lubbock Avalanche

(EDITOR'S NOTE The following article appeared in the Feb. 3, 1924, edition of the Lubbock Morning Avalanche as part of the "Early Days on the Plains" series and was written by James J. Dillard, founder of the newspaper. In this, the eighth installment of a 25-part series, he reflects on his early South Plains travels in the 1890s).

Monday, March 29, 1999
Last modified at 12:31 a.m. on Monday, March 29, 1999

Growth began before railroad came to Lubbock click here for the full article

By JAMES J. DILLARD
Founder of the Lubbock Avalanche

(EDITOR'S NOTE The following article appeared in the Feb. 17, 1924, edition of the Lubbock Morning Avalanche as part of the "Early Days on the Plains" series and was written by James J. Dillard, founder of the newspaper. In this, the 10th installment of a 25-part series, he offers a look at some of the city's pioneers and the beginnings of the cotton business on the South Plains).

Monday, April 5, 1999
Last modified at 12:40 a.m. on Monday, April 5, 1999

Publisher finds education, politics comic click here for the full article

By JAMES J. DILLARD
Founder of the Lubbock Avalanche

(EDITOR'S NOTE The following article appeared in the Feb. 10, 1924, edition of the Lubbock Morning Avalanche as part of the "Early Days on the Plains" series and was written by James J. Dillard, founder of the newspaper. In this, the ninth installment of a 25-part series, he offers a somewhat humorous anecdote of his experiences as a teacher at the old Groves School in Lubbock, as well as incidents in Lubbock during and after the election campaigns, both regional and national, of 1896).

Monday, April 12, 1999
Last modified at 1:55 a.m. on Monday, April 12, 1999

Energetic newcomers created Lubbock's ag economy click here for the full article

By JAMES J. DILLARD
Founder of the Lubbock Avalanche

(EDITOR'S NOTE) The following article appeared in the Feb. 24, 1924, edition of the Lubbock Morning Avalanche as part of the "Early Days on the Plains" series and was written by James J. Dillard, founder of the newspaper. In this, the 11th installment of a 25-part series, he offers a look at some of the successful agricultural enterprises of the time).

Monday, April 19, 1999
Last modified at 1:23 a.m. on Monday, April 19, 1999

Publisher found early life full of hardworking, honest people click here for the full article

By JAMES J. DILLARD
Founder of the Lubbok Avalanch

(EDITOR'S NOTE The following article appeared in the March 2, 1924, edition of the Lubbock Morning Avalanche as part of the "Early Days on the Plains" series and was written by James J. Dillard, founder of the newspaper. In this, the 12th installment of a 25-part series, he reflects on some of the pioneer farming families on the South Plains).

Monday, April 26, 1999
Last modified at 2:22 a.m. on Monday, April 26, 1999

Many of Lubbock's early citizens had ranching experience click here for the full article

By JAMES J. DILLARD
Founder of the Lubbock Avalanche

(EDITOR'S NOTE The following article appeared in the March 9, 1924, edition of the Lubbock Morning Avalanche as part of the "Early Days on the Plains" series and was written by James J. Dillard, founder of the newspaper. In this, the 13th installment of a 25-part series, he looks back on the contributions made by some of the pioneer cowboys on the South Plains).

Monday, May 3, 1999
Last modified at 9:43 a.m. on Monday, May 3, 1999

Traveling court spanned 175 miles of West Texas click here for the full article

By JAMES J. DILLARD
Founder of the Lubbock Avalanche

(EDITOR'S NOTE The following article appeared in the March 16, 1924, edition of the Lubbock Morning Avalanche as part of the "Early Days on the Plains" series and was written by James J. Dillard, founder of the newspaper. In this, the 14th installment of a 25-part series, he reflects on pioneer attorneys on the South Plains).

Monday, May 10, 1999
Last modified at 2:06 a.m. on Monday, May 10, 1999

Promises of fortune lured migrants Mexicans came to Lubbock in search of work click here for the full article

ANDRES TIJERINA
A-J Special Contributor

Lubbock is one of those Texas towns not already established by Mexicans before the Anglo-Americans settled. Lubbock was settled by Anglo-American pioneers, many of them Quakers. By 1891, Lubbock was already a small town. But there were few Mexican-Americans.

Monday, May 17, 1999
Last modified at 12:55 a.m. on Monday, May 17, 1999

Frontier spirit brought mayhem to civil courts click here for the full article

By JAMES J. DILLARD
Founder of the Lubbock Avalanche

When I located in Lubbock, more than 28 years ago, the mode of travel was by buggy and team wagon or by the mail hack. It took two days to reach Big Spring or Colorado City, thence we traveled by the way of the Texas & Pacific Railway.

Monday, May 24, 1999
Last modified at 2:24 a.m. on Monday, May 24, 1999

Badger fights, blacksmiths were part of area living click here for the full article

By JAMES J. DILLARD
Founder of the Lubbock Avalanche

Among the early blacksmiths to locate and follow their trade in Lubbock was Jack Johnson, who operated a shop on the lot occupied by Jons, the sign painter. When the railroad was built from Amarillo to Roswell, N.M., then Portales got on a boom, and several of the earliest citizens of Lubbock moved to that place and among them was Jack Johnson and Joe Lang and his son-in-law, Chas. P. Mitchell. I am informed that Johnson lives at Portales at this time, but Lang and Mitchell are both dead.

Monday, May 31, 1999
Last modified at 2:30 a.m. on Monday, May 31, 1999

Early judge was a tribute to Southern gentlemen
By JAMES J. DILLARD
Founder of the Lubbock Avalanche

(EDITOR'S NOTE The following article appeared in the April 6, 1924, edition of the Lubbock Morning Avalanche as part of the "Early Days on the Plains" series and was written by James J. Dillard, founder of the newspaper. In this, the 17th installment of a 25-part series, he reflects on the contributions of civic-minded pioneer W.D. Crump).

Monday, June 7, 1999
Last modified at 1:20 a.m. on Monday, June 7, 1999

Pioneers plied their trade in early Lubbock
By JAMES J. DILLIARD
Founder of the Lubbock Avalanche

In one of my articles, I paid tribute to the early blacksmiths, but I recall two who followed their profession in Lubbock in the early days who I forgot to mention.

Monday, June 14, 1999
Last modified at 12:41 a.m. on Monday, June 14, 1999

Lubbock grew quickly in its first decade
By JAMES J. DILLARD
Founder of the Lubbock Avalanche

The convening of district court recently at Lubbock brings to my mind the first district court held in Lubbock County after its organization on March 10, 1891.

Monday, June 21, 1999
Last modified at 12:57 a.m. on Monday, June 21, 1999

Lubbock pioneer children had school, too
By JAMES J. DILLARD
Founder of the Lubbock Avalanche

(EDITOR'S NOTE The following article appeared in the June 22, 1924, edition of the Lubbock Morning Avalanche as part of the "Early Days on the Plains" series and was written by James J. Dillard, founder of the newspaper. In this, the 20th installment of a 25-part series, he pays tribute to the early teachers and their important work).

Recently in discussing old times, I was informed that the first school taught in Lubbock County was a subscription school, the tuition paid by various individuals, and many of the subscribers were old bachelors, who would agree to pay one dollar and 50 cents per month, and the informer tells me that he remembers that E.C. Knight and Frank Bowles were subscribers to the school fund.

Monday, July 5, 1999
Last modified at 1:23 a.m. on Monday

Brick by brick, early settlers built a life in South Plains
By JAMES J. DILLARD
Founder of the Lubbock Avalanche

Observing the many beautiful and substantial brick buildings in Lubbock now under construction, I recall the first brick freighted in to Lubbock, which was used in building flues in a house on block 236 in old town; also sufficient number were purchased to build flues in the Avalanche office on lot 6, block 104, which is now occupied by the Security State Bank and Trust Company.

Monday, July 12, 1999
Last modified at 1:08 a.m. on Monday, July 12, 1999

Need of Texas land drove settlers to buy quickly
By James J. Dilliard
Founder of the Lubbock Avalanche

One of the abstractors of Lubbock was extolling the beauties and opportunities of the South Plains to a prospector a few days since in my presence, and he referred to a section of land located in the southwest corner of Lubbock County which was purchased from the state of Texas by Jesse Dalton and later of boots, which transaction was consummated about 24 years ago, and that the land had increased in value more than two dollars per acre each year as its value at this time was conservatively estimated at $50 per acre.

Monday, July 19, 1999
Last modified at 1:49 a.m. on Monday, July 19, 1999

Distance to doctor created worry for pioneers
Namesake of Wayland Baptist offered medical services to Lubbock residents from Plainview

By JAMES J. DILLARD
Founder of the Lubbock Avalanche

Referring to the hardships among the early settlers of this country, I remember that one evening about sundown in the month of February, 1898, that J.B. LeGette asked me to go to Plainview and get Dr. J.H. Wayland to come and see his brother-in-law, Bolin Hall, who was seriously sick.

The Lubbock Avalanche  is being transcribed from microfilm.